Machine for filling bags.



PATENTED'AP1L28, 1903. c. A. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAG S. APPLICATION rnnnumzo, 1902. 10 MODEL.

g I]. j I I ga 123 4 3: 2

14 SHEETS-SHEET 11 12 IHFH L A w 50 v e o 2f o o 5 o r i: a, I" I No.726,275. PA'TENT'ED APR.28,-1903.' 0. A. FISHER. MACHINE FOR/FILLING BAGS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAIL 20 1902.

110 MODEL. 14 SHEETS-SHEET 2 M'77765S$ Mil/d, 7144M,

Tm: "aims mins 00.. PhoTou'mo wnmnomn. n, c.

'No.726,275. I PATENTED APR. 28,- 19os.'

c. A. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902.

14 SHEBT-SHEB-T 3. 4

H0 MODEL.

' T NORRIS prrzns on. nnoramna, wninmcmu, 0.1:. I

No.726,2 7,5. v PATENTED APR28,1903. 0.- A. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS.

nruouron PILEDJAN. 20. 1902.

n o momm. 14 sums-sum 4.

No. 726,275; v P-ATENTED APRI28, 1903.

c. A. FISHER. MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS.

ABPLIOATI-ON FILED JAN. 26. 1902.

no MODEL, 14 sums-sum 5.

5N9. 726,275 PATENTED APR. 28, 1903. c. A. FISHER. MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902.

Ty: NDRI|$ Ptrzns so. PHuro-uma. WASHINGTON, 0,1;

v No. 726,275. 'PATLNTED :APR. 28, 1903.

is. A. FISHER;

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20. 1902. .30 nomm. 1 1.4 SHEEN-SHEET 'r.

No 726,275. PATENTED APR. 2s, 1.903.

. 0. A. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS. APPLIUATION FILED-nu. 20, 1902.

10 MODEL. 1 14 SHEETS-SHEET a. 1

Q I g 1 3 N01. 726,275. PATBNTED APR. 28,1903.

/ c. A. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAR. 20, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 14 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

No; 726,275.. PATENTED APR. 28; 1903.

G. AHFISHER.

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILE!) 'JAN. .20, v 1902.

, N0 MODEL. 14 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

v PATENTED APR; 28, 1903. c. A. FISHER. v MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN: 20, 19 02.

14 sums-sum 11'.

10 MODEL.

r l I 1 I l l l l l w: ucams PEYEFLS N'o.726,2'75. v PATENTED APR.28,1903.'

0'. A. FISHER. Y MAGHINE'FOR FILLING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902. 1!! MODEL.

14 sums-S EET 12.

Hill! 'PATE NTED- APR. 28, 1903.

G.-A. FISHER.- MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902.

14 SHEBTS SHBBT 13.

No. 726,275. j PATENTBD APR. 28,1903.

-- 0 .A. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS. v

ABPLIOATION IVILED JAN. 20, 1902. N0 MODEL. 1 4 BHEET8-.-BHEET 14.

UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. FISHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FoR FI LLING BAGS.

aPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,275, dated April 28, 1903. Application filed January 20, 1202. Serial No. 90,494- (No model.)

1'0 all w/wm/ it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. FISHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Filling Bags, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates'to improvements in machines for filling bags and for like purposes.

The prime object of my invention is to provide a machine which will feed fibrous material in such a manner that the entire mass of the material fed to the machine will be moved forwardly at a uniform rateand with little or no tendency to compress or compact the material in the process of feeding.

Another object of'my invention is to provide such a machine which shall operate in such a manner that material of difierent kinds supplied simultaneously to the machine will be fed into a bag in the same relative posi{ tion in which said material is supplied to the machine.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are accomplished by the devices illnstrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 Figure 1 is a front elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4is a longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of movable wall. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the whole machine. Fig. 8 is a detail in perspective of the mechanism at oneof the rear corners of the uppercarriage. Fig. 9 is adiagrammatic view of aside elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 10 is a plan view'of Fig. -9. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 2, showing the carriages 2 3 separated from each other. Fig. 12 is a de- 3 and is feathered to the shaft by which it is actuated. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13 looking in the direc tion indicated by the arrows. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the adjustable side board. Fig. 16 is a detail of the upper end of one of the upright partition-arms. Fig. 17 is a sectional detail on the line 17 of Fig. 15 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of one of the removable wings. Fig. 19 is a detail in front elevation of the feed-arm-operating mechanism at the left-hand corner of the lower carriage. Fig. 20 is a plan view in detail of a portion of Fig. 19, showing the connections between certain parts. Fig. 21 is a sectional detail on the line 21 21 of Fig. 20 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 22 is adetail of a modified form of feeding-surface of one of the feed-arms. Fig. 23 is a detail in end elevation of the feed-arm-operating mechanism at the right-hand front corner of the lower carriage, showing in dotted lines certain changed positions of the parts. Fig. 24 is a sectional plan view on the line 24 24 of Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is a sectional view on the line 25 25 of Fig. 24 and on the line 25 25 of Fig. 10 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the end casting at the right-hand front corner of the lower carriage looking from the inside. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the same looking from the outside and showing its connection with the side bar 4. Fig. 28is a detail of the feed-arms, showing how adjacent feed-arms are attached to the plates which carry them and are cut out to prevent contact with the plates carrying the other set of feed -arms. Fig. 29 is a perspective view in detail of the manner of assembling the side bars 4,braces 8, and end castings 9. Fig. 30, Sheet 13, is a perspective detail view of a modified manner of assembling the side bars 4 with the end castings 5; and Fig. 31 is a similar view to Fig. 24,except that the parts are shown in shifted position.

Like figures of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

at each side of the forward end of my machine, each pair arranged so as to constitute guides for the machine, the posts 1 serving also as supporting-posts of the framework within which my machine is mounted.

2 and 3 are the lower and upper carriages, respectively, each of said carriages comprising a rectangular platen, as shown in Fig. 5, comprising side bars 4, secured at their forward ends to upright end castings 5. These end castings are secured to and parallel with each other by cross-bars 6 7. Extending diagonally from the rear ends of the side bars 4 to the cross-bars 7 are braces 8. At their rearends the side bars are connected by crossbars or fixed shafts 103. The carriages 2 3 are supported by counterweights 9, to which are attached ropes 10, which extend over pulleys 11, and thence to the carriages 2 3 in a familiar manner. The carriage 2 is provided with internally screw threaded collars 12, which are mounted upon and engage endless screws 13, which are journaled at their lower ends in suitable bearings 14and at their upper ends in bearings 15, and are provided at their upper ends with gears 16, arranged to mesh with gears 17 upon a counter-shaft 18, which is journaled in brackets 19. The carriage 3 is similarly provided with collars 20, engaging endless screws 21, journaled at their lower ends in bearings 22,at their upper ends in bearings 23, provided with gears 24, which mesh with gears upon a counter-shaft 26, jonrnaled in brackets 27.

The countet shaft 18 is provided in a usual manner with loose pulleys 28 and 29 and a friction -clutch 30, arranged therebetween, whereby the shaft 18 and the endless screws 13 may be started, reversed, or stopped at will, the counter-shaft 26 being similarly provided with loose pulleys 31 32 and a frictionclutch 33. The friction-clutch is operated by a shifting rod 34, mounted in hearings provided for it in brackets 35 and operated by means of a bell'crank lever 36, a rod 37, and a hand-lever 38, the rod 37 being also provided with adjustable collars 39 40, arranged to be engaged by the collars 12 of the carriage 2 at the limits of its travel in either direction, whereby the friction-clutch may be automatically shifted out of engagement with the pulleys 31 32. The friction-clutch 33 is provided with similar shifting means, comprising a rod 43, brackets 44, bell-crank 45, rod 46, and lever 47, adjustable collars 48 and 49 on the rod 46, and the collars 20 of carriage 3.

The platens of the carriages 2 3 are preferably both provided with two sets of feed-arms 52 53. Although either or both of the plat- \Vhen so constructed, the carriages and platens, together with the mounting and operation of the feed-arms, are substantially counterparts of each other, so I will confine my description to the construction and operation of the carriage 2 with its attached parts.

The end castings 5 are provided at their outer faces with lugs 54,which extend between and loosely engage the pairs of vertical posts 1, as shown in Fig. 12, and are guided thereby. On their inner faces the castings 5 are provided with grooves 52 53.

Extending across the front of the carriage 2 and between the castings 5 are cross-heads 56, which are preferably made of channeliron arranged opposite to each other, but with their respective flanges extending away from each other. At the ends of the cross-heads the flanges are cut away, leaving the webs, which fit loosely within the grooves 52 53 and are guided thereby. Upon the top of the upper flange of the cross-head 55 and extending longitudinally thereof is a plate 57, which is attached to the cross-head 55 by means of bolts 58, engaging transverse slotways 59 in the plate 57, thereby permitting the plate 57 to be reeiprocated transversely of the crosshead 55. In like manner the upper flange of cross-head 56 is provided with a plate 60,which is attached thereto by means of bolts 61, engaging slotways 62.

At the rear end of the machine a cross-head 63 is movably attached to flanges 64 upon the rear ends of the braces 8 by means of bolts 65, engaging slotways 66 in the cross-head 63. A similar cross-head 67 is arranged opposite to the cr0ss-head 63 and is movably secured by means of bolts 68, engaging slotways 69 in the cross-head, to flanges 70, which are secu rely attached to the side bars 4. The crosshead 63 carries a plate 57, which is movably secured thereto by bolts 58, engaging slotways 59 in the plate 57, which arrangement is duplicated on cross-head 67 by a plate bolt 61, and slotways 62. The arms 52 are securely attached by screws or in any other suitable manner near their forward and rear ends to the plates 60. In like manner the arms 53 are attached to the plates 57. The upper or feeding surfaces of the arms 52 53 are provided with means for engaging and feeding the material to be fed, such means being preferably in the form of teeth 71, arranged like ratchet teeth. This feeding means may, if preferred, be provided by attaching a metallic strip of such ratchet-teeth to the feeding-surfaces of the arms 52 53.

In Fig. 22 I have shown a modified and perhaps preferable form of feed-arm, in which the feeding-strips comprise a plurality of parallel ribs 71, each of which ribs is provided with the desired ratchet-teeth. In this manner, without increasing the number of feedarms and without endangering the stability of the feed-arms, as they would be endangered if made as thin as the width of these ribs, I

IIO

provide a series ,of' narrow feeding-teeth" a counter-shaft7 3, journaled-in the castings 5 and provided at its ends with gear-wheels 74,-arranged to mesh with theteeth of gearwheels75. At the ends of the shaft 73 are arranged vertical shafts 76, each of which is direction.

provided with the gear-'wheelsg75, which are feathered thereto. 'The lower ends of these shafts may be journaled' in brackets 78, by which, in conjunction with collars 79, they are supported. The upper ends of these shafts are journaled in brackets 80, attached to the frame within whichthe machine is mounted. The carriage 2is also provided with brackets 81', within which are. journaled thevhubs 82 of the gear-wheels75, said hubs extending iathrough said brackets and being supported thereon by means of collars 83,.which;sur'r round the projecting ends of said hubs and; are locked thereto by means of screws 84. (See Fig. 13.)

The counter-shaft 73isprovided adjacent to its opposite ends with oppositely-disposed cams 85 86. Mounted upon the cam 85 is a vibrator 87-and'upon the cam 86 is a vibrator The vibrators 87 88 are fulcru med at their lower ends to the cross-bar 6. The vibrator 87 is provided with a finger 89, which is connected, by means of a link 90, with the plate 60 on; the cross-head 56, while the vibrator 88 is-provided with a finger 91,'which is connected, by means of a link 92, with the plate 57 on'the cross-head 55. It is obvious that when the shaft 73 rotates-the cams 85 86 the vibrators 87 88 and links 90 92 will alternately reciprocate the plates 60 58 in'a horizontal The cam 86. is provided with a hub 93, upon which is loosely mounted a rocker or rocking spider 94, which is provided with an upright arm 95, horizontally-extending arms 96 97, and a downwardly-extending forked arm 98. The shaft 73 is also provided with a cam 99, upon which is mounted'a vibrator 1.00, which is fulcrumed at its lower end to the shaft 6 and is provided with a laterally-extending pin 101, which engages the forked end of-the arm 98'of the spider 94; The inner face of the cross-head; is provided with flanges 102, which extend above andbelow the arm 96' of the rocker 94, so as to freely engage said arm without binding.

. The cross-head 56 is similarly provided with fianges102 for engaging the arm 97- of the rocker 94 in like manner. 7 1

The arrangement of. the rocker 94, crossheads, andflanges 101 and 102 is-duplicated at the rear endof the carriage, except that the rockersat the rear end of the machine are loosely mounted upon a stationary connecting-shaft 103, secured to castings 104, and

are actuated .by means of connecting-rods 105, which connect the upper arms 95 of the forward and rear rockers, and rods 106,which in like manner connect the lower arms 98 of the forward and rearrockers. I

From the foregoing arrangement it is evident that when -the shaft 73 rotates it will not only cause the opposite horizontal reciprocation of the plates 58,'as previously noted, but by means of the cam 99 and vibrator 100 will rock the spider 94, whereby the 'arms 96 97, engaging the flanges 102 103, re-

spectively, will alternately reciprocate vertically the cross-heads 55 56,respectively,and by means of the connecting-rods 105106 the irear set of rockers will simultaneously and {oppositely reciprocate, the cross-heads 63 and '67, so that the rotation of the, shaft 73 will cause the cross-heads 55 63 to move upwardly, after which the plates 58, mounted thereon, are moved forwardly,'together with the arms 54 carried thereby, while the cross-heads56 67- will correspondingly move downwardly, 'and .the; plates 60, mounted thereon, are moved backwardly, together with the arms 53 carried thereby. v

V I provide the sides of the machine with side boards 107 108, extending upwardly, so as to form side partitions or walls for the space between theupper and lowerplatens. One of said boards, 107, may be stationary, while the other board,108, is preferably adjustable. Mounted in sockets upon a stationary framework 109 is a series of vertical rods 110, preferably provided at their upper ends with fingers 111 and extending Iupwardly between the arms 53 52 of the carriage 2. A similar set of arms- 112 is mounted adjacentto' the rear end of the machine upon a longitudinally-movable supportw114a The armsl-lO are so arranged with reference to the feedarms 53 and 52 that when the carriage2 is in operative position'the upper ends of these arms are below the feeding-surfaces of the feed-arms 53 52,- as shown in Fig. 1, while when the carriages 2 3 -are-separated from each other for the purpose of supplying the machine with the material to be fed thereby the carriage 2 is lowered until these arms project above the feed-surfaces of the feedarms 53 52 in the manner shown in Fig. 11. The rear arms 112, however,extendupwardly beyond the plane of the upper ends of the forward arms to the lowest plane occupied by the feed-arms of the carriage 3 when in operative position.- vWhen the-carriages 2 3 are separated from each otherto be supplied with material to be fed, these arms 110 1 121constitu'tethe front and rear walls of an adjustable rectangular bin,"which is I filled by the operator with not less than sufficient material to be fed by the machine into a single bag.

By means of sprocket-wheels or pulleys 115, a crank 116, and a sprocket-wheel 117 the support 114 for the rear set of upright rods may be moved forward or back at will, so as to increase or diminish thelongitudinal dimension of this space or bin. The adjustable side board 108 is provided adjacent to its forward edge with pockets 118, arranged to engage the fingers 111 of the front rods 110, and at its upper edge is provided with a laterally and downwardly extending flange 113, forming a channel extending along the upper edge of the side board 108, so as to loosely and slidingly engage the upper end of any one of the rear partition-rods 112. ,By the arrangement described the adjustable side board 108 will extend upwardly to the lowest plane of the feed-surface of the upper carriage 3 and downwardly between two of the feed-arms 53 54 of the platen of the lower carriage u, so as to confine in a lateral direction the material being fed by the machine when in operation. The forward ends of the boards 107 108 are provided also with pockets for engaging hooks 119 upon the removable wings 120. These Wings are provided with shoulders 121, which engage the forward ends of the side boards 107 108, so as to permit the swinging of the adjustable wings toward each other, but so as to prevent more than a slight swinging in that direction.

The vertical end shafts 76 are provided at their upper ends with gears 122, which mesh with gears 123 on a counter-shaft 124, which is provided with a loose pulley 125, driven by a drive-pulley 126 on the main shaft 127. The counter-shaft 124 is also provided with a friction-clutch 128 for throwing it into and out of engagement with the pulley 125 at the will of the operator by means of shifting mechanism 129.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Starting with the machine at rest and with the platens in a position close to each other, the endless screws 13 are caused to rotate by moving the bell-crank lever 36 so as to throw the friction-clutch 30 into engagement with the loose pulley 28, thereby rotating the counter-shaft 18 and the endless screws 13 by means of the intermediate gears 17 16. This will cause the carriage 2 to descend until the collars 41 on the carriage engage the stop-collars 39 on the rod 37 and throw the friction-clutch out of engagement with the pulley 28. A like operationof the shifting mechanism in connection with the carriage 3 will cause the carriage 3 to ascend until it reaches the limit of its movement, when its lifting mechanism will be automatically stopped in the manner described. The machine will now be in the position shown in Fig. 11. In this position the side boards 107 108, the front vertical partition-rods 110, which in this position of the machine extend upwardly above the surface of the feed-arms 53 54, and the rear vertical partition-arms 112, form the sides of a bin of which the feed-surfaces of the feed-arms 53 54 of the carriage 2 form the bottom. Into this bin the material which is to be fed is placed by an attendant in a layer of approximately uniform thickness. The lever 47 is now shifted by hand, thereby starting the rotation of the endless screws 21 and causing the descent of the carriage 3 until the collar 20 upon the carriage 3 engages the stop-collar 48 of the rod 46, thereby automatically stopping the machinery when the carriage 3 has reached a predetermined point. The lever'36 is now moved, thereby starting the machinery in operation to raise the carriage 2 until its upward movement is likewise stopped by means of the automatic stop devices previously described. In this operation of the machine the material to be fed may be compressed between the platens of the carriages 2 3 to any desired degree. The removable side wings 120 are now put in position upon the front ends of the side boards 107 108 and the mouth of the bag which is to be filled is slipped over these side wings, which support it and hold it extended laterally, and also over the feedarm extensions 72, which support the upper and lower portions of the bag in open position. The body of the bag is wrinkled or skinned up on these extensions and side wings until the side wings are substantially in contact with the bottom of the bag. By means of suitable shifting devices the counter-shaft 124 is thrown into engagement with the pulley 125, thereby causing the rotation of the end shafts 76 by means of the intermediate gears 122 123, the end shafts 76 in turn causing the rotation of the counter-shafts 73 by means of the intermediate gears 74 75. As previously explained, the rotation of the countor-shaft 73 causes the movement of the crossheads 55 toward each other immediately preceding the forward movement of the plates 57, carried thereby, and also simultaneously with the movement away from each other of the cross-heads 56 and immediately preceding the rearward movement of the plates 60, carried thereby. As the feed-arms 53 are rigidly attached to the plates 57 and the feedarms 52 are in like manner attached to the plates 60, this results in the feed-arms 52 of one platen simultaneously moving toward the feed-arms 52 of the other platen, thereby engaging and compressing therebetween the material which is to be fed into the bag, and is immediately followed by a simultaneous forward movement of the feed-arms 52, carrying the wholemass of material to be fed forward the distance traveled by the feedarms and in the direction of the empty bag. During this movement of the feed-arms 52 the feed-arms 53 of one platen have moved ICC away from the feed arms 53 of the other platen, thereby disengaging themselves from the material to be fed and at the same time inoving backwardly to their initial position. The continuation of this'movement results in carrying the material tobe fed out from-between the platens into the'space between the side wings and the extensions 72, which space is inclosed by the empty bag. 'As the matelimit myself to such specific manner of assembling the machine, nor to the precise form ofthecomponent partsof the machine. Ob-

Vionsly variations in these -detailsmay be made 'as' mattersof convenience or shop exped'iency, and'if means be provided for supplying the machine'continu'ously with resilien't' material to be fed thereby the normal'operation of the machine willb'e'varied some- I what in' immaterial details from the opera- "tion thereof as 'hereinabove' explained; but

all such modifications and variations come within the spirit of my invention and are contemplated thereby.

Having thusdescribed my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure byLettersPa'tcut, is

1. In a machine of theclass described, the

combination'with'a pair of platens, of feeding devices, the feeding-surfaces of which extend su bstantially'parallel with the inner faces of said platens,'i and means for operating said feeding devices in a direction to feed fibrous material from between saidplatens, substantially as described. f g

' 2. In. a machine of theclass described, the

'combinationwitha pair of oppositely-disposed platens', of a series of feed'-arms, means upon said feed-arms arranged to compress material against the opposite platen for engaging the material to be fed, and means for reciprocating saidfeed-arms in a direction to feed material from between said platens,'substantially as described.

3. In a'machine of the class described, the combination with 'a'p'air of oppositely-disposed platens, of means for reciprocating one of said platens toward or away from the other,feedarms arranged substantially parallel with the inner faces of said platens to feed material from betweensaid platens, andmeans for actuating said feed-arms, substantially as described.

4. In amachine of the class described,'the combination with a pair of platens, of means for moving'said platens toward and away from .each other, twoisets of arms, the arms of'one set being a'rrangedto alternate with the arms of the other set, means upon one set of arms for engaging material between said platens, and means for actuating said set of arms to feed material from between said platens, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a platen, of two sets of arms arranged to form the feeding-surface thereof, means upon one set of arms to engage the material to be fed, means for actuating said set of arms to feed material along the face of said platen and meansfor compressing such material against said platen substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a platen, of two sets of feed- "arms, the arms of one set being arranged-to alternate with the arms of'the other set, means upon said feed-armsto engage the material to be fed, means for actuating said sets of feed-arms in rotation to feed such material along the face of the platen and means for compressingsnch materialagainst said platen, substantially as described.

7. In a machine'of the class described,the combination with a platen having a feedingsurface comprising a set of feed-arms, of a plate movably mounted across each end of the platen, towhich'plate said feed-armsare attached, a shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft, and means actuated through saidcam by the rotation of said shaft for reciprocating said plates and the arms carried thereby in a direction to feed material lengthwise of said -platen, substantially as described.

'8. .In a machine of the class described, the

upon said arms for engaging material tobe fed, and means for moving said arms toward the. material to be fed and forwardly and then away from such material and' backwardly, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a supporting-frame, of a pair of movably-mounted plates, a set of feedarms carried by said plates, means upon. the

feeding-surfaces of said arms forengaging material to be fed, a power-shaft, a-pair of cams rigidly mounted thereon, and'means acmated by the rotation'of said cams for moving' said arms toward the material to be fed and forwardly and then awayfrom such material and rearwardly, substantially as de-- scribed.

10. Ina machine of the class described, means for actuating the feed-arms, cofnprising a pair of yertically-inovable cross-heads,

:a pair of horizontally-movable plates, each plate'mounted upon one of said cross-heads, a rotatable shaft, and means actuated'by the rotation of said shaft to oppositely reciprocate said cross-heads in a vertical direction,

andltosuccessivelyreciprocate each of said plates forwardlyas the cross-head by which it is carried rises and rearwardly as such cross head descends, substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the class described, means for actuating the feed-arms, comprising a pair of oppositely-arranged and vertically-movable cross-heads, a horizontallymovable plate mounted upon each of said cross-heads, a rotatable shaft, a pair of rocking spiders loosely mounted on said shaft, each of said spiders being provided with oppositely-extending lateral arms, means upon said cross -heads for loosely engaging said arms, whereby one cross head will be supported upon such of said arms as extend from one side of said spiders and the other crosshead will he supported upon the oppositelyextending pair of arms, means mounted upon said shaft for rocking said spider during the rotation of said shaft, and means actuated by the rotation of said shaft for moving each of said plates forwardly immediately after the cross-head by which it is carried is moved upwardly, and for moving each of said plates backwardly immediately after the corresponding cross-head moves downwardly, substantially as described.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a set of feed-arms, of means for operatively actuating said feed-arms, said means comprising the combination with a vertically-movable cross-head, of a horizontallymovable plate mounted thereon, said plate carrying the feed-arms, a power-shaft, a cam keyed thereto, a vibrating device loosely mounted upon said cam and fulcrumed ata point beyond said power-shaft, a link connecting the free end of said vibrating device with said plate, a second cam keyed to said shaft, a vibrating device loosely mounted thereon and fulcru med to a point beyond said shaft, a rocking device suitably mounted adjacent to said cross-head, mutually-engaging means upon said rocking device and upon said second vibrating device, whereby said rocking device will be rocked upon the rotation of said shaft, and mutually-engaging means upon said rocking device and said cross-head whereby said cross-head will be vertically reciprocated when said rocking device is rocked, substantially as described.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of platens, of arms, extending outwardly from the forward end of said platens and on a plane with the feedingsurface thereof, arranged to support the open mouth of a bag adjacent to the dischargeopening between said feeding-surfaces, the inner faces of said arms being provided with means for engaging fibrous material, and means for reciprocating said arms, substantially as described.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of platens, of means for moving said platens toward and away from each other, a pair of side partitions comprising a laterally-adjustable partition, a pair of end wings, mutually-engaging means upon the ends of said partitions and upon said end wings, whereby one of said end wings is pivotally supported upon each of said partitions, stops for limiting the movement of the end wings toward each other, and supporting means extending outwardly from said platens on a plane with the feeding-surfaces thereof, whereby an empty bag may be slipped over and supported by said supporting means and said end wings, with its open mouth adjacent to the discharge-opening between said platens, substantially as described.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a set of feed-arms, of a partition comprising a plurality of arms extending between said feed-arms and at an angle thereto, substantially as described.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a set of horizontal feedarms, of an adjustable end wall, comprising a support carryinga plurality of vertical arms extending between and at an angle to said feed-arms, and means for moving said support lengthwise of said feed-arms, substantially as described.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a platen carrying a set of feed-arms, of a partition comprising a plurality of arms extending between said feedarms and at an angle thereto, and means for moving said platen so as to carry said feedarms above or below the free ends of said partition arms, at will, substantially as described.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a set of feed-arms, of end partitions comprising a plurality of arms arranged to extend between said feed-arms and at an angle thereto, a movable side partition arranged to extend lengthwise of said feedarms and between two of said arms, and mutually-engaging means upon said side partition and said vertical arms, whereby said side partition is carried by two of said vertical arms, substantially as described.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of platens, of means for engaging material therebetween, at a plurality of points of a surface thereof lying parallel with said platens, and means for actuating said engaging means in a direction to simultaneously and uniformly feed all of said material from between said platens, substantially as described.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of platens, of a plurality of feed-arms, arranged substantially parallel with the inner faces of said platens, and extensions upon said feed-arms extending outwardly from the forward end of said platens and arranged to support the open mouth of a bag adjacent to the dischargeopening between said platens, and to feed material into said bag as such material is dis- 

